Buffett's SuccessionPlan - 11.02.2010
Last week Warren Buffett announced that Todd Combs, a little known39-year-old fund manager from Darian, CT is the leading contenderto take over Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio when Buffet dies orretires. In order to fill the position, Buffett posted a helpwanted ad (yes you read it right) that was responded to by hundredsof people, among them Comb's, who was among the long list ofundistinguished applicants that didn’t hear back. Undaunted, Toddwrote a letter directly to Berkshire's vice chairman CharlesMunger, and this time he struck a chord, and got a meeting. Hecarried the day and was ultimately selected, not because he is abrilliant investor, but because he would fit-in to Berkshire'sno-fuss culture. There are two lessons here. The first is thevirtue of tenacity and figuring out how to standout in the crowdespecially in today's dynamic environment when competition isfierce. The other is to not underestimate the power of culture. Insome companies it is just more important who you are, rather thanwhat you can do.

Tony LoPinto is a senior client partner and head ofKorn//Ferry International’s Real Estate Practice and founder ofSelectLeaders. The views expressed in this article are the author’sown.

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Sales and On-line Marketing Manager
(NEW YORK CITY) The manager will contact targeted current &prospective clients to explain and sell the SelectLeaders EmployerProducts and Services; create and/or edit website sales copyoptimized for job search engines and e-mail campaigns; oversee thedelivery of email campaigns; and maintain social media accounts;among other duties.

REDWOOD TRUST
Senior Commercial Real Estate Associate
(NEW YORK CITY) The associate will perform rigorous cash flowmodeling; undertake detailed due diligence of financials, tenantleases, market and competitive positions, engineering/environmentalcondition risks, and other pertinent property-level factors; andperform borrower/sponsor, guarantor and tenant credit analysis;among other duties.

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Vice President Business Development and Client Relations –Finance
(NEW YORK CITY) The VP will develop, establish, and maintaincustomer relationships among targeted groups; research and attendappropriate industry conferences, breakfast meetings, national andregional industry groups, promoting company brand at all times;call on principals among targeted clients to establish and enhancevalue-added relationships and source new business; and continuallyimprove the "packaging" of the company's story and marketingmaterials; among other duties.

ING CLARION
Portfolio Management Analyst
(NEW YORK CITY) The analyst will assist with preparation and reviewof portfolio level and client reports; assist in the prep andpresentation of preliminary and final investment memoranda to thefirm's investment committee and portfolio management personnel;monitor and analyze the financial performance of the properties andportfolios; maintain portfolio models; and maintain propertyvaluation files; among other duties.

AMERICAN REATLY ADVISORS
Senior Asset Management
(LOS ANGELES) The senior asset management will develop andimplement strategic business plans for each asset that will governits daily operations, position in the market, and ultimatedisposition; negotiate tenant lease proposals and leases, workingwith third-party leasing agents and attorneys; and oversee thethird-party property management groups for multiple product types;among other duties.

ATB FINANCIAL
Senior Manager – Corporate Facilities
(CALGARY) The senior manager provide leadership and direction forthe team providing services to all owned and leased properties inEdmonton and Calgary, including assessment and review of allaspects of design, project management and property management; leadglobal initiatives and activities for ATB within the candidatesarea of expertise; and create and monitor building and constructionbudgets; among other duties.

CB RICHARD ELLIS
Managing Director
(WASHINGTON, DC) The managing director will build strong businessoperations and sets specific, measurable, challenging yetachievable goals and objectives; evaluate industry and businesstrends in local market area for potential impact on operations andrespond with necessary business changes as indicated; andformulate, negotiate and execute contracts with the client andvendors; among other duties.

HOLLIDAY FENOGLIO FOWLER, L.P.
Real Estate Analyst
(LOS ANGELES) The analyst will prepare commercial mortgageloan/sales packages for presentation to lenders and buyers; respondto lender and borrower questions; work with Production Coordinatoron loan requests; and coordinate information regarding market data,occupancy data, expense analysis, aerials, maps, rent/sales,comparables and occupancy; among other duties.

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PERKOWITZ+RUTH ARCHITECTS
(LONG BEACH, CA) Perkowitz+Ruth Architects are promoting Tarek Ananand Michael Salmon to associate principals.

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FHO PARTNERS
(BOSTON) FHO Partners is hiring Colin Greenhalgh as an associate inthe downtown brokerage practice area within Corporate AdvisoryServices. Prior to joining FHO Partners, Greenhalgh worked as anassociate broker at GVA Thompson Hennessey & Partners.

INTERSTATE HOTELS & RESORTS
(ARLINGTON, VA) Interstate Hotels & Resorts is hiring AaronGreenman as senior vice president, development - Europe. Hepreviously served as head of business development for JHMInterstate, Interstate’s management joint venture in India.

KBW, INC.
(NEW YORK CITY) KBW is hiring Andrew Dietz as managing director andSimon Leopold as managing director in the Real Estate InvestmentBanking Group in New York. Previously, Leopold was a managingdirector at Deutsche Bank and Dietz was a founder and senior memberof Eastdil Secured’s Private Equity Capital.

COLLIERS INTERNATIONAL
(STAMFORD, CT) Colliers International is hiring Jeff Williams as asenior managing director and previously worked at Choyce Peterson,Inc. Enzennio Mallozzi is being hired as director in the firm’sinvestment sales division. Mallozzi previously worked for SoundviewWealth Management as a financial advisor.

JONES LANG LASALLE
(PHILADELPHIA) Jones Lang LaSalle is hiring Douglas Rodio and JamesGalbally as vice presidents, specializing in the sale of investmentproperties and distressed assets for private and institutionalclients, developers, lenders and special servicers, as well asproviding advisory services for corporate clients.

SPANDREL PROPERTY SERVICES
(NEW YORK CITY) Spandrel Property Services is hiring VincentAdovasio as executive property manager. Most recently, Adovasioserved as director of operations at Parkchester South CondominiumInc.

KLAFF REALTY, LP
(CHICAGO) Klaff Realty, LP is hiring Tad Wefel as director ofacquisitions.

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